What is compressed natural gas (CNG)?

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is natural gas stored at a high pressure which can be used as an alternate for gasoline, propane or diesel fuel. It is safer than other fuels as natural gas is lighter than air and it disperses immediately when released. It can be found above oil deposits or can be collected from landfills or plants of wastewater treatment where it is known as biogas. It is formed by compressing the natural gas to less than 1 percent of its volume occupied at the standard atmospheric pressure.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) (methane stored at high pressure) can be used in place of gasoline (petrol), Diesel fuel and propane/LPG. CNG combustion produces fewer undesirable gases than the fuels mentioned above. It is safer than other fuels in the event of a spill, because natural gas is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released. CNG may be found above oil deposits, or may be collected from landfills or wastewater treatment plants where it is known asbiogas.

CNG is made by compressing natural gas (which is mainly composed of methane, CH4), to less than 1 percent of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 20–25 MPa (2,900–3,600 psi), usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes.